MIDDLEWICH runner Mark Ward took a break from celebrating his wife’s birthday to win a race in New York last week.

The 34-year-old, on holiday in America with spouse Sheri, decided to take part in the Manhattan Training Run – a 14-mile race from higher Manhattan to Battery Park.

An injury did not slow him down, and he took victory in 1:32.52 ahead of Brooklyn resident Omar Villegas after completing a course that took in several of the city’s famous landmarks, including One World Trade Center.

“Mark wasn’t sure the day before whether he’d be at the start-line because his knee had been troubling him,” said Sheri.

“He was reluctant, but ended up doing the race and winning the whole event.”